Birthday boy Mazara sparks Rangers’ rout of Yankees

As someone who debuted in the major leagues at a very young age, Adrian Beltre knows the kind of maturity required to do what Nomar Mazara has done this month.

Beltre was the youngest player in the majors when he debuted June 24, 1998, for the Los Angeles Dodgers at 19 years, 78 days. Mazara is the youngest player in the majors this season.

As of Tuesday, he’s 21 years old. But he has been outlandishly mature since his Texas Rangers teammates first met him.

“He’s doesn’t act like a 20-year-old, 21 today to be exact,” Beltre said. “It’s weird to see a 20-year-old guy, so young, acting the way he does. It’s not only the talent he has, but the makeup and the focus that he has is something I haven’t seen in a long time.”

Beltre could go on and on, and he did.

So did others. It’s hard for them not to be impressed by a rookie of 16 days who acts like the major leagues is old hat to him.

And on the day he turned 21, Mazara collected hits in his first two at-bats and scored after each, and A.J. Griffin allowed one run in eight innings as the Rangers snapped a four-game losing streak with a 10-1 victory over the New York Yankees at Globe Life Park.

“He has so much confidence in himself, the way he carries himself, and every at-bat he takes is a really good at-bat,” Beltre said. “That’s good to see in a 21-year-old guy.

“He’s a young guy that doesn’t really step out of line. You don’t have to tell him a lot. He stays quiet. He works hard. He comes here to the ballpark and gets his work done.”

Mazara is also humble when dealing with the media, which he does with aplomb — in his second language. He talked in spring training about the structure his life had growing up as the son of a high-ranking officer in the Dominican Republic’s navy.

Perhaps that’s why he didn’t have big birthday plans after the Rangers’ first victory since Thursday.

“We’ve got a game tomorrow,” he said.

Mazara singled and scored in the first and started a two-out, five-run rally in the third with another single off Luis Severino.

The Rangers benefited from a missed third strike call against Ian Desmond, who drew a bases-loaded walk to push Mazara home for a 2-0 lead. Six straight Rangers reached base in the rally, which ended only after Brett Nicholas was robbed of extra bases on a diving catch by right fielder Carlos Beltran.

Looking for a spark, the offense found one in Mazara.

“It seems like he’s not afraid,” said shortstop Elvis Andrus, who was the second youngest player in the majors when he debuted in 2009 at 20. “That’s a great skill to have, especially at a young age. He knows what he’s doing out there. As long as he continues to stay locked in and enjoy the game, he’s going to be good.”

Griffin enjoyed the run support, but he was cruising before the big inning. The Rangers’ No. 5 starter took a two-hit shutout into the seventh before the first three Yankees reached in the seventh to produce their only run.

Mazara entered Tuesday as the American League rookie leader in average and runs, was second in multi-hit games and hits, and was third in total bases. He doesn’t have enough plate appearances to be a qualifying player, but if he did his .365 average would rank second in the league.

Though he hasn’t gotten overwhelmed by the hubbub about the start to his career, Mazara does think about it.

“Every time I go to my apartment, I think about the past few weeks,” Mazara said. “It’s been the best three weeks I ever had in my life.”

Trouble, though, is lurking, or at least every player’s history suggests that it is. All ballplayers slump at some point, and Mazara is going to as well. His worst so far was the 5-for-21 (.238) stretch he took into Tuesday.

His maturity will help him get through it sooner than others might. If he needs help, he has plenty of veterans who debuted at his young age.

“That’s what we’re here for,” Beltre said. “I’ve been through that. He doesn’t need it right now, but if there comes a time, I’m going to help him.

“But I don’t think he needs it because he has everything under control. He has his head on right.”

As general manager Jon Daniels said, Mazara “looks like he belongs.”

“He’s been outstanding,” Daniels said. “It’s only been three weeks, but you can’t ask for much more over that period on both sides of the ball. It’s one thing to have quality at-bats and one thing to be so productive.”

How the Rangers fared

Hitting: The only two batters who didn’t have a hit were Delino DeShields and pinch hitter Hanser Alberto. Ian Desmond and Rougned Odor hit homers, but Desmond’s bases-loaded walk in the third was the first RBI in a five-run inning. Elvis Andrus had a team-high three hits.

Pitching: A.J. Griffin produced the best outing by a Rangers starter hit season, allowing one run on four hits in eight innings. It was the longest outing by the Rangers, eclipsing the seven innings Cole Hamels threw on Opening Day. Griffin improved to 3-0 with a 2.52 ERA.

This story was originally published April 26, 2016 at 10:09 PM with the headline "Birthday boy Mazara sparks Rangers’ rout of Yankees."